the goan I network
PANAJI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Saturday assured that the government at the Centre will make “every possible effort” to ensure mining is restarted in Goa and to also promote the State’s tourism industry.
Shah was addressing a convention of booth-level workers ‘Atal Booth Karyakarta Sammelan’ at the athletic stadium in Bambolim as part of the party’s preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar made a fleeting visit to the event and also briefly addressed the gathering.
The event drew a crowd of nearly 15,000, mostly workers of the party from across the State, and Shah showered praise on ailing Parrikar, who he said, always talks of his concern about the problems of Goa, especially the mining imbroglio.
“Parrikar is the best example of a party worker (BJP karyakarta). Despite his poor health, he came to speak with party workers here,” he said.
Shah also reserved part of his address to the workers for criticism of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and accused the Gandhi scion of indulging in low-level politics over his personal visit to ailing Parrikar.
“This type of low-level politics in the garb of meeting ailing CM has never been practiced by any politician until now,” Shah said, and praised Parrikar for his response. Shah also said that the Narendra Modi government has thus far given Rs 15,980 crore to Goa which is nearly three times more than the Rs 5000 crore which was allotted through the 13th Finance Commission.
He also claimed that a total of Rs 35,000 crore of benefit was given to Goa, including direct benefit and incentive of Rs 1,800 crore under various schemes.
Alleging that the Congress is opposing National Register of Citizens (NRC), Shah said all illegal immigrants will be
thrown out of the country if BJP comes back to power in 2019.
Taking a dig at the Opposition which is closing ranks to dislodge the BJP, Shah said the party wants to give India a strong (Majbut) government while the other Opposition party leaders like Mayawati want to give ‘Majbur’ (weak) government.
Shah also said that the BJP will come to power in Bengal and Odisha, and it was paramount that the party forms the government after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls if India has to shine on the global stage. “BJP is the only party which can safeguard our boundaries,” he said and poked fun at Opposition coalition which he said lacked a leader, programme or ideology.
Leaders like Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Deve Gowda, Chandrababu Naidu all want to become PM which will make their government unstable, he said, adding that this type of leadership will not give pride to the nation. He stated, that unlike the predecessor UPA governments, the NDA government has beefed up the security of the nation. The share of Defence in the recent budget is Rs 3 lakh crore which is the highest among all budgets of the country till date.
He claimed that after the Uri attack, the Government retaliated and India is now in the league of nations like Israel and America who had the guts to attack militants in other foreign territory.
While mentioning development work done by the BJP Government in Goa, Shah made a reference to the newly constructed ‘Atal Setu’ over the Mandovi, the under-construction Zuari Bridge, Khandepar, Galigibag-Talpona bridge, Mopa airport, and the extension of the Dabolim airport and Tuem electroninc city.
He also referred to some decisions of the Central government such as tax relief to the middle-class by raising the exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh and the granting of 10 percent reservation to upper caste poor.
Parrikar, meanwhile, in his brief speech only said that he is keeping his energy reserved for the election campaign.
He appealed to the party workers to stay united by keeping aside small differences and grievances.
“Many rumours will be spread during election time. Keep an aim that ‘Abki Bar Narendra Modi Sarkar’. If the government comes to power many things will happen in Goa,” Parrikar added.
Parrikar stayed for just two minutes and spoke for around a minute before Shah could speak and left just as Amit Shah began his speech.
